Hundreds of travellers found themselves stranded at Kenya’s primary international gateway in Nairobi as flight cancellations and delays persisted for a second consecutive day due to an ongoing workers’ strike.
Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) serves as a critical regional aviation hub, connecting East Africa to destinations worldwide.
On Sunday, the airports authority and Kenya Airways, the national carrier, issued advisories warning passengers to expect significant delays on departing flights.
A new round of negotiations between union representatives and airport management had been scheduled for Monday, following the collapse of talks the previous day without reaching a resolution.
Aviation workers across the country have initiated a go-slow strike, demanding improved working conditions and the full implementation of a previously negotiated agreement.
Travellers hoping to depart have been stuck at JKIA, with many forced to spend the night in and around check-in halls awaiting further information.
Kenya Airways confirmed in its most recent statement that due to “industrial action by air traffic control personnel,” the airline is experiencing delays exceeding six hours, with the accumulated backlog compelling the cancellation of certain departures.
The carrier has issued an apology for the inconvenience and indicated that passengers wishing to modify or reschedule their bookings may do so without incurring penalties.
Flight tracking platform Flightradar24 documented numerous flights experiencing delays, cancellations, or diversions throughout the day.
RwandAir announced on Monday that it had cancelled two services due to the continuing “operational constraints affecting air traffic control operations” at the airport, building on earlier cancellations that occurred on Sunday.
Mendel Goldman, en route to a wedding in Florida, informed Reuters that his flight had been cancelled following multiple postponements.
He noted that he had been waiting at the airport for approximately 12 hours.
“The earliest available connection they can offer is tomorrow evening, so we have no choice but to wait. We’re going to make the best of the situation, but I’ve been here for 12 hours now, stuck in the terminal,” he explained.
William Obino, a 22-year-old passenger, told AFP: “Nothing is moving forward, and updates are coming to us very late. It’s completely disrupting our travel plans.”
The industrial action follows a two-day dispute in February concerning collective bargaining rights and the deployment of volunteer staff at the airport.
Union leaders stated that the strike was initiated because the outstanding concerns had yet to be adequately addressed.
Nairobi’s principal airport ranks among the busiest aviation facilities in the region, functioning as a vital link between the African continent and international destinations. According to official statistics, the airport accommodated approximately nine million passengers last year.
However, the airport has experienced repeated strike action in recent years as staff continue to push for improved employment conditions.
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